Protect Yourself

The ability to defend oneself is invaluable. A firearm is the most effective way to defend yourself from an attacker, but that might not always be possible. The purpose of this site is to show the many types of weapons you can use to defend yourself. You can carry most of these anywhere without drawing any unwanted attention, yet they’re effective enough to take down almost anyone. Having the right tools to defend yourself is important for your health and safety because you never know what might happen.

Be smart. Be prepared.

Choosing a self-defense weapon is can be daunting. Here, we'll give you information you need to choose the right self-defense products for you — so you can feel safe and protected at all times.

Defense sprays are chemical sprays that incapacitate an assailant via irritant or inflammatory effect. Most sprays mainly rely on an extract of hot pepper plants for their effectiveness. This extract is an inflammatory agent that has an instantaneous effect when sprayed into the eyes and face of an assailant.

The heat from pepper extracts is measured in Scoville Heat Units. The typical jalapeno pepper rates at about 2,500 Scoville Heat Units, while the some commercially available sprays rate at up to 2 million Scoville Heat Units. So, to get an idea of the effect of getting sprayed, just think about the last time you rubbed your eyes after handling a jalapeno pepper, and multiply that feeling by about eight hundred times!

Range of these sprays is usually several feet and the effects take 20-30 minutes to wear off with no long-term ill effects to the assailant. Since this stuff is strong enough to be used as a defense against bears, you can bet it will be effective against any human. The inflammatory effect of pepper spray causes eyes to swell and close, making it impossible for the attacker to see anything. It’s also very cost efficient at only $10 to $15 per canister. That’s a small price to pay for a device that causes extreme irritation to the assailant’s eyes, skin, and respiratory system.

If you purchase a defense spray, make sure you get a good, quality brand, and that you replace it every six months to ensure your spray will work when you need it.

Caution:

When you spray a blast onto the face of an attacker, it’s possible that some of it could get on you as well. Furthermore, the chemicals in pepper spray can’t stand extreme hot or cold temperatures, weakening its effectiveness. It also doesn’t work as well in the wind or rain.

The legality of defense sprays is regulated at a state level and your state may have specific rules about what kind of sprays are legal, and what the contents of the sprays may contain. Check with your local legal sources before purchasing, especially if you go online.

Like any weapon, a defense spray can be turned against you. You should treat this like any other weapon and commit to training and practicing drawing and using it.

STUN GUNS

A stun gun is a device that relies on a pulsed electrical current to incapacitate an assailant. They are highly effective at stopping an assailant. This is a great weapon when intervening with an attacker whose back is turned to you. Most stun guns don’t look like traditional guns so they don't draw too much attention. Still, it's best to keep your stun gun adequately concealed. A stun gun is not only a non-lethal self defense weapon, it’s a great alternative to pepper spray since it will even work in the wind or rain. The mere jolting sound that stun guns produce may be enough to scare away attackers. But even if it isn’t, the thousands of volts of electricity certainly will.

Caution:

Stun guns require to make actual physical contact with an assailant to exert its effect.

Thick clothing can lessen the effect of the stun gun on an assailant.

Like any weapon, a stun gun can be turned against you. You should treat this like any other weapon and commit to training and practicing drawing and using it.

TASERS

Tasers are stun guns that fire a barbed dart into the assailant's skin from a distance. The dart is attached to the handheld unit by two wires that deliver the electrical impulses that disable the assailant. Most tasers have a fifteen-foot range.

Caution:

Tasers require you to hit your target. Hitting a target from a remote distance is not easy, and hitting a moving target is extremely difficult.

Tasers only fire one single shot.

Tasers require skin break to exert their effect. If the assailant is wearing thick clothing or moving, the taser will not work.

Like any weapon, a stun gun can be turned against you. You should treat this like any other weapon and commit to training and practicing drawing and using it.

KUBOTANS

A kubotan is considered a pocket stick and can be used as a keychain, or attached to one, but there are also keychains that come ready to be used as a self-defense weapon. These are highly inconspicuous objects, which adds to their effectiveness as a weapon.

You can easily hold kubotan in one hand, and because they are so small and inconspicuous they are often not recognized as a weapon. However these can really pack a heavy punch by concentrating your force into a single point.

Caution:

You will be engaging in close-quarters combat. There is no room for error. If you are unsuccessful, you are likely to be severely injured or dead.

Effectiveness of the kubotan is highly correlated to the number of hours of training with it.

Like any weapon, a stun gun can be turned against you. You should treat this like any other weapon and commit to training and practicing drawing and using it.

BATONS

The baton is a self-defense tool that has risen in popularity over the past few years. It’s probably because the baton is a very basic weapon — straightforward, easy to carry and uncomplicated to use. In most cases, people really do not require a lot of background skills in order to utilize them, unlike knives or swords, for example

Caution:

Self-defense batons may look like harmless sticks but they can result to physical harm. If you use a self-defense baton, make sure you know how and when to use it correctly. If you are not careful, you could use more force than is necessary and end up inflicting excessive pain on someone who may not deserve as much. You could also end up hurting yourself.

CANES

A cane is one of the most efficient defensive items on this list. It gives you plenty of reach, hits hard, and it’s far less intimidating (at first) than a baseball bat. Select a cane that won’t break easily and has a heavy handle; hardwood canes with rubber-type handles are usually your best bet.

Caution:

Just remember that if you plan on using a cane for self defense, you better look like you have a limp since you’ll look very suspicious if you don’t.